High-street lenders’ reluctance to lend has been driving more borrowers to secured loan market.
And data from the latest Secured Loan Index shows the amount lent between January 2012 and October 2012 is significantly higher than the entire year of 2011 - lending up to 31st October, 2012 has already surpassed the previous year in its entirety by £6.8m.
The Loans Warehouse Secured Loan Index reveals secured loan lending in October stood at £31.9m, an increase of 1.6% on September’s figure of £31.4m, perhaps emphasising the effects of the UK’s move out of a recession in the third quarter.
October is the fourth month in a row where lending has reached over £30m.
The annual increase in secured loan lending was 38.7% higher than in the same period in 2011, where it stood at £23m. This is the only annual increase October has witnessed since before 2009.
Matt Tristram, joint managing director of Loans Warehouse, said: “The secured loan market continues to strengthen, with changes in annual lending rising rapidly as more and more borrowers are finding secured loans increasingly attractive. This is due to several factors: low rates, increased product availability and the squeeze of interest-only mortgage products.
“With many high street lenders shying away from interest-only (with Nationwide announcing at the beginning of October they will no longer be selling mortgages on an interest-only basis) a huge opportunity is presenting itself to the secured loan market.
“A secured loan is a realistic option to those borrowers who are looking to raise capital but are being penalised by their mortgage lender. It has never been more important for brokers start thinking of the best solution for their clients, and the best solution isn’t necessarily the best mortgage product.
“Secured loans continue to prove themselves to be a suitable alternative to remortgaging, especially to those looking to raise capital while still protecting their interest-only mortgage. The more the first charge market digs its heels in, the more the second charge market steps up to the plate and with rates as low as 6.9%, the industry does and will continue to offer suitable alternatives for brokers and consumers alike.”
Maeve Ward, head of sales at Shawbrook Bank, said: “The SLI figures have made it clear that demand for secured loans in growing, making the market a much more positive place. Both intermediaries and their customers now see that a second charge loan can be used to raise additional capital without affecting the existing structure of their first mortgage.
”Shawbrook constantly look at ways to boost the market by working closely with its intermediary partners; listening to feedback to create innovative products at market leading rates and helping to raise the awareness of secured loans as an attractive alternative to remortgaging.”
James Prosser, show director of Mortgage Business Expo, added: “It was extremely positive to see secured loan brokers such as Loans Warehouse, Fluent Money and Norton exhibiting at this year’s Mortgage Business Expo London 2012.
"Whilst the overall mortgage market remains stagnant, there are pockets of the financial services industry that are already starting to see growth. We hope to grow areas of the show in the coming years and believe the secured loans market to be one of these areas.”
Tristram added: “With lending in 2012 already surpassing 2011 levels and with two month’s still to go, I think it’s fair to say that demand for secured loans is growing.
“The squeeze of interest-only combined with October’s economic backdrop has put the secured loan industry on the right track, which is crucial for regaining consumer confidence and should have a further positive impact on 2013.”
